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No details from NY DOT on properties affected by new I-81

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Mike Griffin of the New York State Department of Transportation talks with Brenda Silverman at one of the information panels explaining one of the alternatives on rebuilding l-81. The public meeting was held at the Everson Museum of Art auditorium.
(Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- State officials on Thursday afternoon gave very few details about what local properties might be affected by the 16 versions of a new Interstate 81 for Syracuse.

Some of the options -- including building a new, straighter viaduct to replace the aging one by downtown -- would require acquiring and razing properties. But how many and which ones? Department of Transportation officials declined to say, adding that the proposals are in the very beginning stages and still evolving.

"All of the alternatives are being developed even as we speak," said DOT spokesman Beau Duffy.

A group of local elected and government officials met this morning for a preview of today's presentation, and they had the same question about properties, according to Salina Supervisor Mark Nicotra. DOT officials declined to tell the local leaders as well.

Nicotra said he and others also wanted more details about how side streets around the current I-81 viaduct near Syracuse's downtown would be affected under the various options. DOT officials offered no more details that the drawings including in tonight's presentation.

More details will come, Duffy said. This summer, the department will hold another "scoping" meeting, a formal session required as the state writes an environmental impact statement for the project. The date for the summer session has not been set, Duffy said.

Hundreds of people showed up at the Everson Museum today to hear about the 16 options from I-81 Project Manager Mark Frechette.

Nicotra, who heads a group called Save 81, said he didn't have a favorite among the 16 concepts. "Last year at this time, there seemed to be limited options," he said. Now, with 16 drawings to look at, people have more concrete proposals to debate.